No escape for Park as S. Korea scandal intensifies

Tuesday, November 15, 2016 - 01:45

South Koreans are furious with President Park Geun-hye, ahead of her questioning by prosecutors over a political scandal engulfing her leadership. As Ryan Brooks reports protesters, and even many people within the president's own party, are considering impeachment.

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A presidency on the brink.
Millions of South Koreans furious with Park Geun-hye -
-who's lawyering up ahead a grilling from prosecutors.
She's suspected of pressurising bosses at major companies including Lotte and Samsung....
...to raise funds for foundations run by her close friend and confidante Choi Soon-shil.
The scandal has sparked a political firestorm - crushing Park's approval rating to just 5 percent.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) JU-MIN PARK, REUTERS REPORTER, SAYING:
"The political parties even some people within her own ruling party, are talking about impeachment proceedings unless she steps down on her own, there are not many options left for her, either facing impeachment or appointing a new Prime Minister approved by her opponents."
Nearly a million people turned up for anti-Park protests in central Seoul last weekend...
Protests that still haven't fully died down.
Park was elected on the legacy of her father, strongman Park Chung Hee...
For South Koreans who once saw her as incorruptible, there's a sense of betrayal.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) JU-MIN PARK, REUTERS REPORTER, SAYING:
"One of her weaknesses was lack of communication. Her private life is shrouded in secrecy.. Korean people don't know what she's doing in her free time - once all these allegations were revealed, it made Koreans turn their back on the president, thinking she wasn't working hard for the country, but only for herself, or her friend who has no government job, you know for their own interests. People were stunned at first, and then becoming angry."
Just a few weeks ago, political parties were pushing for Park to set up a coalition government...
But with public opinion in a tailspin-
they're now under pressure to consider her political exile.

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